Corn-husking machine.



No. 879,404. PATENTED EEB.18. 1908. F. & FLT MoINTURF.

001m HUSKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IEB.26, 1906.

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No. 879,404. PATENT'ED FEB. 18, 1908. F. &I'. T. MQINTURF. 001mHUSKINGMAOHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PELZB, 1906,

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PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

F. & F. T. McINTURF. CORN HUSKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB.26,1906.

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PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

F. & P. T. McINTURP. CORN HUSKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED PEB.26,1906.

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F. & F. T. MoINTURP.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED I'EB.2'6, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE.

FREDERICK McINTURF AND FRANK T. McIN TURF, OF MENDOTA, ILLINOIS.

GORN-HUSKING MACHINE Patented. Feb. 18, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERIoK MOIN- TU'RF and FRANK T. MoINTURE,citizens of the United States, residing at Mendota, in the county ofLasalle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Corn-Husking Machines, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a combined corn harvester and husker by meansof which standing corn in the field may be cut, the ears removed fromthe stalks, and such ears then husked.

The invention consists of the organizations and arrangements of partshereinafter particularly described and then pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a plan view of the combinedharvester and husker; Fig. 2 is a view of the same in side elevation;Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 on anenlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1;Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views on an enlarged scale of the mechanism forraising and lowering the machine; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of one ofthe folding rake teeth; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 ofFig. 1 Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the husking rolls; Fig. 10is a sectional View on the line 1010of Fig. 2; and Fig. 11 isafragmentary view of the snapping rolls.

The frame of the machine may be of any suitable character. In thepresent instance it consists of front beam 12, rear beam 13,

intermediate beam 14, a side beam 15, center beam 16,and a pair ofparallel beams 17 at the side of the machine opposite the beam 15. Abeam 18 is located between the side beam 15 and center beam 16. Thesebeams forming the supporting frame of the machine may be securedtogether in any suitable manner. The frame is carried by a tractionwheel 19 rotatably mounted on an axle 2O suitably supported by the beams15 and 18 and a second wheel 21 located at the opposite side of theframe.

An inclined gathering board 22 is located over each of the beams 17,being inclined at a suitable angle, as shown in Fig. 2, with their frontends extended beyond the front beam 12. These beams are supported neartheir the stalks between the same.

- at its front end on the beam 12.

rear ends by uprights 23 and at the front by the extended ends of thebeams 17. The boards 22 are suitably spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 1,to permit of the passage of The inner edges of the boards 22 at theirfront ends are curved outwardly, as at 24, to provide a flaring mouth toguide the stalks between the same and to gather in any stalks which maybe bent over or out of line. To facilitate this each board 22 at itsfront end is provided with a curved shoe or runner 25, which runningalong or close to the ground will pick up or straighten any stalks thatmay have fallen over. Under and parallel to each board 22 is a board 26,such boards being suitably supported by the frame. The boards 22 and 26provide a supporting frame for the mechanism for gathering the stalksand conveying them to the snapping rolls and husking mechanism, ashereinafter described. To the rear of the front ends of the boards 22and reciprocating in suitable guides 27 on the beams 17 is acutter bar28, such bar being located under the throat or passage between theboards 22 and 26.

The hub of the wheel 19 is provided with a sprocket wheel 29 and a cham30 communicates motion to a smaller sprocket wheel 31 fixed on atransverse shaft 32 suitably journaled on the beam 16 and 18. This shaftis provided with a second sprocket wheel 33 ooselymounted thereon towhich is adapted a chain 34 communicating motion to a sprocket wheel 35fixed ona shaft 36 also journaled on the beams 16 and 18. The shaft 36extends beyond the beam 16 and is provided with a bevel gear 37communicating motion to a similar gear 38 fixed on a longitudinal shaft39. The shaft 39 is suitably journaled on a stub beam 40 fixed to thebeam 16 and also Beyond the beam 12 the shaft 39 is provided with acrank wheel 41 to the pin of which is pivoted a pitman 42 connected toand for'reciprocating the cutter bar 28.

The traction wheel 19 communicates motion to the operating mechanism ofthe machine, and in order to throw such mechanism out of action whilethe traction wheel is in motion, a suitable clutch is provided. To thisend the sprocket wheel 33 has a clutch member 43 fixed thereto withwhich'coo' crates a sliding clutch member 44 slidabl y lever 45 having abell crank 46 at its front ering boards.

end which engages the slidable member 44.

The rear end of the lever passes through and' is loosely pivoted in thebar 47 which supports the seat 48. A vertical rod 49 is pivoted in thebeam 16, as at 50, and the upper end of such rod is offset or in theform of a crank and has a handle 51. A spiral spring 52 on the shaft 32,interposed between the slidable member 44 and the beam 16, tends to holdthe clutch coupled. To uncouple the clutch the crank rod 49 is turned ata right angle to the lever 45 and engaging such lever uncouples theclutch. When in such position, the crank rod being on a center, theclutch is held or locked in its uncoupled position.

Near the front end and on the upper face of each board 26 is pivoted asprocket wheel 53 and a similar sprocket wheel 54 is pivoted on suchboard at a suitable distance from the front sprocket. A chain 55 isassociated with the pair of sprockets 53 and 54 on each board 26 andprovided with fingers 56, as shown in Fig. 1. The sprockets 54 are fixedon shafts 57 which extend at a right angle to the inclination of thegathering boards and project above the upper boards 22. Each shaft 57 isprovided at its upper end with a sprocket wheel 58. At the rear end ofeach board 22 is a sprocket wheel 59. Each associated pair of sprocketwheels 58 and 59 is connected by a sprocket chain 60 provided withfingers similar to the fingers 56 on the chains 55.. The arrangement issuch that the fingers on the two sets of chains project over or in theline of the throat between the gathering boards, and the inner oradjacent stretches of the chains travel rearwardly and in the samedirection. As shown in Figs. 4 and 10 the boards are provided withupstanding or raised portions 61, within the confines of the chainsthereon, to guide the chains and maintain their adjacent stretchesparallel.

. As shown in Fig. 1 the fingers on each associated pair of chainsare'arranged in alternation, the spacing corresponding substantiallywith the spacing of the corn in the rows. A plate 62 is secured as bymeans of suitable rackets 63 on each gathering board 22 and these platesare inclined outwardly so as to provide a trough shaped guide as shownin Fig. 10 to prevent the upper ends of the stalks from falling oversidewise.

The sprockets 59 are fixed to shafts 63 which are inclined at arightangle to the gath- The upper end of each shaft is suitably journaled inits associated gathering board 22 while its lower end is pivoted in abracket 64 suitably carried by the frame. The shafts 63 are providedwith cylindrical snapping rolls 65 which coperate to snap the ears fromthe stalks. The arrangements of these rollers is such that the bitethereof is in line with the throat between the gathering boards. Theshaft 63 of one of the rolls, at each end, is journaled in a springpressed sliding bearing 66. The spring-pressed bearing for only one endof the shaft is shown in the drawings, the other end of the shaft beingsimilarly mounted in a duplicate bearing. This renders such rollyielding in order to adapt the rolls to stalks of different sizes andavoids clogging.

A trough 67 is located under the throat of the gathering boards parallelthereto. This trough is suitably supported at its ends on the frame ofthe machine and also by the uprights 23. At each end of the trough is atransverse shaft. The front shaft 68 is journaled on the beams 17 whilethe rear shaft 69 is journaled in bearings 7 O on the uprights 23, asshown in Fig. 4. A sprocket wheel 71 is fixed on each shaft 68 and 69centrally of the trough, and carried thereby is a chain 72 provided withcross slats 73. The upper stretch of the chain 72 travels on the bottomof the trough 67, and the lower stretch is supported by a board 74 whichis secured to the uprights 23 and beams 17 to support the same andprevent interference with the mechanism located thereunder. As shown inFigs. 1 and 2 the cutter bar 28 is located at the front end of thetrough so that as the stalks are severed the butts thereof will slide onto the bottom of the trough so as to be engaged by the slats of thechain.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 10, a transverse shaft 75 is suitably journaledin the central beam 16 and the beam 17 and is provided with a pinion 76which receives motion from a gear 77 fixed on the shaft 36. The shaft 75is provided with a pair of oppositely facing bevel pinions 78 whichengage bevel gears 79 fixed on the lower end of the shafts 57. By therotation of the shaft 75 the shafts 57 are rotated and in turncommunicate motion to the endless chains 55 and 60. As the snappingrollers 65 are fixed to the shafts 63 on which the sprocket wheels 59are secured motion is also communicated to such rolls. The shaft 69,associated with the chain 72, is provided with a large sprocket wheel80, which receives motion fromi a sprocket wheel 81, fixed to the shaft75, through the medium of a chain 82. The relations of the drivingconnections are such that the chain 72 is driven at a lower rate ofspeed than the chains 55, while the latter, owing to the fact that thesprocket wheels carrying the same i are of less diameter than thesprockets of the posed in the same plane and extend transversely of themachine, the shafts thereof being journaled in end bars 84, as shown inFig. 4. These rolls are arranged in pairs and any suitable number ofsuch pairs may be employed, three being shown in the present instance.The inner ends of the rolls are located under the snapping rolls 65 sothat the ears of corn will fall thereon. The shafts of the husking rollsare provided with inter meshing pinions 85, as shown in Fig. 2, and oneof such shafts is connected by a universal coupling 86, Fig. 4, with ashaft 87 which is journaled upon a pair of suitable uprights 88.

- As shown in Fig. 2 the shaft 69 is provided with a sprocket 89 which.communicates motion through the medium of a chain 90 to a sprocket wheel91 fixed on the shaft 87. The rolls 83 are inclined downwardly towardsthe outlet end, and the universal coupling 86 is employed for properlytransmitting motion to the inclined roll shafts from the horizontalshaft 87. As shown in Fig. 9, each husking roll is provided lengthwisethereof with alternating annular grooves 92 and ra dial pins 93, thepins on one roll of each pair being opposite and cooperating with thegrooves of the other roll. These pins serve to strip the husks from theears and the grooves provide clearance therefor, the rolls of each pairbeing close together. In order to prevent clogging of the rolls and torender the same yielding to inequalities of the husks the shaft of oneroll of each pair is mounted in sliding bearings 94, as shown in Fig. 9,and an expansion spring 95 is employed to react against such bearing topress the roll thereof yieldingly against the other roll of the pair. Atthe outlet end of the husking rolls is a chute 96 the object of which isto discharge the corn on to the conveyer 97.

At opposite sides of the husking rolls 83 and located above the same isa pair of bars 98. These bars provide a pivoted rakeframe and at theirouter ends are mounted on a shaft 99 carried in bearings 100 on suitableuprights 101. Near the ends of the shaft 99 and between the bars 98 aresprocket wheels 102. The inner ends of the bars 98 are connected by ashaft 103 provided with sprocket wheels 104. Chains 105 are carried bythe sprockets 102 and 104 and these chains are connected at suitableintervals by cross rods 106 each having a radial stop pin 107, as shownin Fig. 7. On each bar 106 is a pivoted tooth 108 which consists in thepresent instance of a plate bent into the form of a loop at one end toreceive the bar 106. The loop of each tooth has a slot 109 into whichprojects the stop pin 107. The function of these teeth is to move theears of corn along the husking' rolls to bring them under the successiveaction of the pins 93 and finally push the ears on to the chute 96. Theposition of the slots 109 is such that the teeth hang at a trailingangle from the under stretch of the chains, as shown in Fig. 4, theteeth preferably being arrested at such allgle by the'ends of the slotsand so as to just clear the pins 93. The teeth are free to swingupwardly and rearwardly, however, in the event that the ears of cornpile up on the husking rolls. These teeth are provided with fingers 110which serve to assist the teeth in feeding the ears along the rolls. Asthe teeth pass from the under stretch of the chains around the sprockets102 they hang vertically, thereby avoiding kicking or throwing the earsoutwardly. On the upper or return stretch of the chains the teeth folddownwardly on and are supported in a horizontal position by the chains,on which the ends of the teeth rest, as shown in Fig. 3.

The rake-frame is yieldingly pressed towards the husking rolls 83 bysuitable contractile springs 111 the lower ends of which are fixed tothe frame of the machine while the upper ends are attached to ears 112on the inner end of the rake-frame. The rakeframe normally rests onstops 113 carried by side plates 114 and engaged by the ears 112, andthe relation of the teeth may be regulated as desired by the adjustmentof the stops 113, which in the present instance take the form of screwbolts. In the event of crowding of the ears under the rake, the framewill readily yield owing to the springs, and avoid breakage of theparts. The side plates 114 are located at the sides of the rake anddesigned to prevent the escape of the ears during the husking operation.

An endless conveyer 115, moving in the 7 direction of the arrow, Fig. 4,is located under and extends longitudinally of the husking rolls 83.This carrier consists of suitable side chains connected by slats 116,the chains being-passed over end sprockets 117 which are fixed to shafts118, suitably journaled on the frame. A reticulated or slotted plate119, secured to side beams 120 by its flanges 121, is located under andprovides a support for the upper stretch of the 0011- veyer 115. Theunder or return stretch is supported by a suitably supported plate 122located thereunder.

The rake and conveyer 115 are driven through the'medium of suitableconnections with the shaft 75. To this end such shaft is provided with asprocket wheel 123 which transmits motion through the medium of av chain124 to a sprocket 125 fixed on a shaft 126 suitably journaled, inbearings fixed to the frame of the machine above the beams 15 and 16,one of which is shown in Fig. 3, as at 127. A stub shaft 128 isjournaled on the beam 15 and is provided with a sprocket wheel 129 whichreceives motion through the medium of a chain 130 from a sprocket wheel131 on the shaft 126. An idler 132 engaging the rear stretch of thechain 130 prevents contact of the latter with the side frame of thehusking mechanism. The stub shaft 128 is provided with a bevel gear 133which transmits motion to a similar gear 134 fixed on a shaft 1.35journaled in bearings 136 on the frame of the machine at the end of thehusking rolls. The opposite end of the shaft 135 is provided with a gear137 which communicates motion to a gear 138 fixed on the shaft 1.18 atthe outer end of the conveyer 115. Such shaft is also provided with asprocket wheel 139 which communicates motion through the medium of achain 140 to a sprocket 1411 on the shaft 99 of the rake.

, A curved trough 142 is located' at the receiving end of the elevator97 under the chute 96 and this trough in the present instance consistsof the extended end of the plate 121. The elevator 97 may be of anysuitable character and the bottom thereof is curved concentric with andextends into the trough 142, the receiving end of the elevator beingpivoted on the shaft 135 and receiving motion from such shaft. Theelevator 97 is designed to convey the ears to a wagon or any other pointand is adjusted through the medium of a suitable cable 143 connected toa shaft 144 pivoted on the uprights 1.0], such shaft being provided witha crank 1.45 and asuitable pawl and ratchet 146.

Suitable means are provided for raising and lowerin the machine in orderto cut the stalks at different heights from the ground.

Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. In the presentinstance the axle 20 of the traction wheel 19 is provided at its endswith pinions 147 which are adapted to cooperate with curved racks 148which are concentric with the axle 20. These racks are formed incastings 149 suitably bolted to the beams 15 and 18 and are providedwith flanges 150 facing the rack teeth. The axle 20 has fixed thereto adrum 151 to which is connected a cable 152 the other end of which iscoiled about a shaft 153 suitably journaled on the front beam 12. Theshaft 153 is provided with a worm gear 154 actuated by a worm 155 on ashaft 156 suitably journaled on a casing 157 and adapted to receive acrank for turning the same. u that through the medium of the connectingcable 155 the axle may be rotated and its pinions cooperating with theracks will raise or lower the frame. The frame is also adjustable withreference to the wheel 21, so as to be adjusted correspondingly with theadadjustment on the traction wheel 19. To this end the wheel 21 ismounted on a vertically sliding block 158 having an ear 159 in which ispivoted a screw rod 160. The rod 160 is in threaded engagement with ancar 161 which is formed on a plate 162 se- Bv turning such crankit isobvious cured to the frame of the machine. The plate 162 is providedwith a guide way and slides up or down on the block 158 depending uponthe direction of rotation of the screw rod 160, the latter beingprovided with a suitable crank 163 for convenience in turning the same.

The tongue 164 is pivoted to the front beam 12 and is provided with aclip 165. A rod 166 is journaled on the beam 1.2 and is provided at oneend with a crank arm 167, which passes through a suitable aperture inthe clip, 165, and at its other with a lever 168. By shifting the lever,the angle of the tongue with relation to the machine may be varied tovary the angle of inclination of the gathering boards and move therunners 25 nearer to or farther from the ground. The lever is providedwith a suitable pawl which cooperates with a segment 169 to hold theparts in adjusted position. A suitable brace, such as 170, may beemployed, for tying the front and rear portions of the frame together.

In the operation of the machine the stalks enter between the gatheringboards 22 and are engaged by the fingers 56 of the chains 55. Thefingers serve to hold the stalks while being severed by the cutter 28.The chains 55 carry the stalks upwardly and rearwardly and the buttsthereof pass on to the bottom of the trough 67 and are caught by theslats 73 of the'chain 72 and carried along the trough. Owing to thedifference in speeds of the chains, the stalks are tilted rearwardly, attheir upper ends and are presentedto the snapping rolls at an anglethereto. As the stalks pass between the snapping rolls the ears arebroken OE and drop on to the husking rolls 83. The stalks pass throughthe snapping rolls and are discharged on to the ground. Owing to therotation of the husking rolls 83 and the action of the pins 93, thehusks are torn from the ears, being discharged on to the conveyer 115located under the husking rolls. These husks are carried by the conveyer115 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 and dropped on to the groundover the end of such conveyer. In the event that any corn is shelledduring the husking operation it drops between the husking rollers andfalls on to the board 119, through the perforations of which it passesto the plate 121. The slats of the conveyer moving along this plate pushsuch corn into the trough 142 from which it is removed by the elevatorand discharged into the receptacle designed to receive the ears of corn.During the husking operation the ears of corn are moved along thehusking rollers to the outlet end thereof finally and when completelyhusked passing through the chute 96 to the elevator.

We make no claim herein to the husking mechanism shown and described,the same being reserved as the subject-matter of our companionapplication, Serial No. 365,628 filed April 1, 1907.

Having described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a corn harvesting machine, the combination with a cutter forsevering the stalks, snapping rolls, of means for feeding the stalksthereto comprising a gathering chain having fingers, and a butt moverand means to drive the butt mover at less speed than the chain.

2. In a corn harvesting machine, the combination with a cutter forsevering the stalks, snapping rolls, of means for feeding the stalksthereto and comprising a gathering chain having fin em, a butt support,and means traveling s ower than the chain for moving the butt ends ofthe stalks along the suport. p 3. In a corn harvesting'machine, thecombination with a cutter for severing the stalks,

snapping rolls, of mechanism for conveying the stalks to the rolls andconsisting of a pair of cooperating gathering chains having fingers, abutt support, and an endless conveyer traveling at less speed than thechain for moving the butt ends of the stalks along the support.

4. In a corn harvesting machine, the combination with a cutter forsevering the stalks, snappin rolls, of a conveyer for moving the butt ens of the stalks, and a conveyer located above and traveling at greaterspeed than the butt conveyer, whereby the upper ends of the stalks aretilted rearwardly.

5. In a corn harvesting machine, the combination with a cutter forsevering the stalks, snapping rolls, of mechanism for moving the stalksto the snapping rolls and comprising an endless conveyer for moving thebutt ends of the stalks, and a pair of chains moving at a higher rate ofspeed than the said conveyer and engaging the upper ends of thestalks,and a trough through which the butt conveyer travels.

6. In a corn harvesting machine, the combination with a cutter forsevering the stalks,

a pair of inclined snapping rolls, stalk gatherers having shoes andproviding a stalk throat between the same, successive pairs of endlesschains having fingers extending into the throat, a trough located underthe throat, and an endless conveyer consisting of a chain having slatstraveling through the trough to move the butt ends of the stalks andtravel-

